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Child sex abuse inquiry opens in Newcastle

ELEANOR HALL: The special commission of inquiry investigating child sexual abuse in the Newcastle area has begun its hearings this morning.

The inquiry was sparked by a senior police officer who went public with his concerns about being asked to stop investigating certain crimes.

The inquiry will also investigate whether the Catholic Church hindered police investigations.

The World Today's Martin Cuddihy is at the inquiry in Newcastle, he joins us there now.

Martin has the inquiry heard from witnesses this morning?

MARTIN CUDDIHY: The inquiry has only just started to take evidence from the senior police officer you referenced there Eleanor, that's detective chief inspector Peter Fox.

Now as we know in late November last year he spoke to the ABC program Lateline and aired his concerns about why he was asked to stop investigating certain child sexual abuse crimes and whether, he questioned whether that was in fact appropriate.

Now that's in fact the first term of reference for this inquiry. This special commission of inquiry is in fact the first one in Australia - it has the same power as a Royal Commission.

Margaret, the commissioner Margaret Cunneen, spoke of the importance of this inquiry to the people of Newcastle this morning, and the Hunter Region more broadly. We were allowed to record her opening remarks and here's some of what she had to say.

MARGARET CUNNEEN: The Commission of such acts of sexual abuse always involves a reprehensible betrayal of the faith and trust placed in that person by the child and the child's family.

Secondly the Diocese of Maitland Newcastle has had a very troubled history regarding issues of child protection and the sexual abuse of children perpetrated by person associated by the Diocese - including certain priests.

ELEANOR HALL: That's the commissioner at this inquiry Margaret Cunneen.

Martin are many members of the public attending there this morning?

MARTIN CUDDIHY: Well you'd probably be surprised to learn Eleanor that there isn't that many, there's probably only about 20 people in the public gallery and there's probably almost as many journalists there. There are also quite a number of senior police officers from the Newcastle region who are listening to this and some of them will be called to give evidence later on.

That is to do with both the first term of reference and the second which is whether or not officials of the Catholic Church facilitated, assisted or co-operated with police investigations.

So it's essentially, the inquiry is looking into whether or not the church hindered these investigations.

But I should mention a bit more of what detective inspector Fox had to say, he has only just started giving evidence, as I mentioned, but he was detailing some of the victim impact statements and some of the statements he took from victims, and he told the inquiry that it was some of the most difficult work that he's had to do. That he's heard of abuse of the most horrid nature and he's even heard of suicides of the alleged victims.

But the counsel assisting Julia Lonergan outlined earlier this morning a little bit of what she expects to hear during this inquiry and let's hear some of what she had to say.

JULIA LONERGAN: I expect the detective chief inspector Fox will give evidence that is of consequence of a direction given during this meeting by superintendent Max Mitchell, who was at the time the commander of the Newcastle local area command. Detective chief inspector Fox perceives that he was removed from any investigative role relating to child sexual abuse matters within the Catholic Church.

There will be significant focus on what occurred at that meeting and the lead up to it and what various officers did after the meeting. Most officers attending that meeting will be examined as to relevant events.

I anticipate the commission will receive evidence about the fact that shortly after this meeting, the three officers appointed to Strike Force Lantle went off work on sick leave for a variety of reasons and have not returned to the New South Wales Police Force.

ELEANOR HALL: That's the counsel assisting there Julia Lonergan. Now she mentioned Martin, that those that were, had the finger pointed at them by detective Peter Fox will be giving evidence there. What are the victims and their families saying about what they'd like to see from this inquiry?

MARTIN CUDDIHY: Well we, I spoke to one victim this morning. The inquiry will focus on the sexual abuse involving two Catholic priests, Father Denis McAlinden and Father James Fletcher. Now both of these men are since dead. They've died in the last ten years or so.

And the inquiry, a lot of the evidence regarding this alleged cover up, or whether in fact there was indeed a cover up, is with respects to those two men. Now one of the victims of Father James Fletcher is Peter Gogarty, and he spoke to the media outside the Newcastle Supreme Court this morning.

PETER GOGARTY: Finally everyone will be forced to say what they knew, and everyone, I mean I've been saying for years that people should do the right thing for the right reasons. Even if that's going to hurt and for years now I've been making that call and I'm absolutely delighted that people are finally being brought to account.

REPORTER: What do you hope this commission of inquiry will achieve?

PETER GOGARTY: I think this commission of inquiry, if it uncovers some of those cover-ups and some people are brought to account and I know the commission is very concerned about making sure they don't prejudice any possible future prosecutions. But I think a prosecution out of this of senior people in the Catholic Church would be a wonderful outcome for victims.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Peter Gogarty who is himself a victim of child sexual abuse.